Sailor’s limits and DHL frustrations

In the deep sea, where waves go crazy,
Sailors brave storms, their spirits not lazy.
On the big ocean where the sky does meet,
A story unfolds of boat work, a job repeat!

With timbers creaking and salt in the air,
They work hard, a burden to bear.
The deck’s their space, a place to command,
But lots of boat jobs, like grains in the sand.

Fixing ropes and unfolding sails,
The ship is a canvas, a nautical tale.
Tying knots and sealing hulls tight,
A sailor’s duty from morning till night.

The sea is their workplace, the boat their pen,
Each task a line, each challenge again.
Tiredness comes with the relentless tide,
Yet they push on with courage and pride.

In the middle of chaos, frustration may grow,
As boat jobs pile up, a never-ending flow.
But sailors persist, like a storm they fight,
For the love of the sea and the thrill of the night.

They endure with resilience and might,
Facing challenges in the soft moonlight.
The sea is demanding, both wild and grand,
And the life of a sailor, a tale of boat jobs and sand

By Aagje

Sint Maarten is a true paradise for handyman sailors. It offers many boating facilities and numerous well-stocked supermarkets, even selling some Dutch products. We have also received multiple packages here from both the Netherlands and America. We wanted to carry out two larger jobs still on our to-do list. First, repair a side window leak and second, purchase and install additional solar panels. We didn’t sit still for long and got to work straight away.

We purchased two solar panels of 310 W each, which means that after installing them, we can generate almost double the amount of solar energy, up to 1270 W. This job went very smoothly and was completed within two days. Even though the repair of the leak on the side window took more time than expected, we successfully completed this task after more than 1.5 weeks. However, the chores are starting to take their toll, causing fatigue and occasional frustration. A clear signal that it was time for some relaxation and fun.

During one of our pleasant evenings at sunset, Karin and Jeroen from Sailing White Pearl shared a helpful tip to escape from the chores: local bus transport is excellently arranged, and for only 2 dollars per person, you can travel comfortably from Marigot Bay to Philipsburg. What makes it extra unique is that you can get on and off anywhere along the way.

Inspired by this advice, we decided to experience the local van ourselves the next day and went to Philipsburg. Rajesh wanted to purchase a longer-range lens for his camera while we looked for a replacement for our GoPro that had stopped working. Our mission was successful! Rajesh bought an excellent 150-500mm lens, and we managed to find the GoPro 12. Philipsburg is best known as a lively port city where impressive cruise ships moor, sometimes even three or four at a time. The stretch of beach the city offers is entirely occupied by an abundance of rentable sunbeds and parasols. The air is saturated with the smell of sunscreen, and the sunbeds are littered with people enjoying the sun and sipping cocktails, with the occasional poor soul looking like they’ve lost a barbecue competition.

Not everything is for sale on the islands, which makes sailors dependent on package deliveries. This dependency is extra emphasized this time, as we experience for the first time how long a package can be in transit. Our goal is to carefully estimate and have everything shipped to specific islands well in advance.

This time, DHL left us slightly frustrated. We had a package sent from Germany to Sint Maarten two months ago. It usually takes around three weeks before the package will arrive. Despite the possibility of following the package’s progress online, it has been stated since November 14 that it is on its way to Sint Maarten by plane. However, a call to DHL’s Philipsburg headquarters yielded disappointing results as our package was absent, and they could not provide any information about its location. If it was a small matter of tens of euros, we might still consider it bad luck. Unfortunately, that does not apply to this specific package. After further inquiry about the package’s whereabouts, we were confronted with an answer: If the package is not yet present, it has probably been lost. It could take between 3 and 6 months before it may surface again! Unfortunately, she couldn’t do anything else for us. I hang up, slightly frustrated. Why with this package? Although we are extending our stay here in Sint Maarten by a week, we ultimately have to move on. Fingers Crossed!

Jeroen and Rajesh are busy reorganizing everything on board to free up more cupboard space for provisions. At the same time, I dive into a less pleasant subject: what to do in an emergency. Evacuation plans aren’t exactly the kind of topic sailors like to think about. In the world of flapping sails and heaving waves, it seems strange to deal with emergency situations. But even the most intrepid sailor must be aware of the unpredictability of the sea.

Drawing up an evacuation plan may not sound as tough as hoisting the sails and sailing the open sea. I also prefer to daydream about endless horizons and undiscovered islands. Still, it is a necessary step for the safety of both ourselves and our boat. Life at sea brings its own challenges, which is why it’s essential to be prepared for unexpected twists and turns.

To further guarantee safety, I have drawn up an evacuation plan and prepared our “grab bags”. On a sailboat, a “grab bag” is an emergency bag we can quickly grab if we have to leave the boat in an emergency. We aim to ensure we have essential items readily available if we need to leave our boat and get into our life raft.

What’s in these grab bags?

Personal Identification and Documentation: passports, boat registration and other important documents.
Communication equipment: A waterproof VHF radio, EPIRB, Iridium Go, a solar power bank, flares and a flare gun.
Navigational equipment: A compass.
First Aid Kit: Essential medical supplies, medicines and seasickness remedies.
Emergency rations: Non-perishable foods such as energy bars and water purification tablets.
Survival Gear: Life jackets, thermal blankets, a signalling whistle, a multi-tool, a small flashlight with spare batteries, a waterproof flashlight and a signalling mirror, along with goggles, fishing line and bait.
Extra clothing.
Personal Items: Spare glasses, sunscreen, lip balm and toilet paper.

It is important to check and update the contents of these grab bags regularly to ensure that all items are in good condition and perishable items are within their expiration dates. In an emergency, a well-prepared grab bag can significantly contribute to your chances of survival until help arrives. As soon as the evacuation plan has been laminated, we hang it next to the navigation table. To relax in between, we went out for dinner with Karin and Jeroen at an Indian restaurant, Bombay Bite. Always tasty and pleasant.

After Jeroen and Rajesh redecorated the boat, they installed new taps in the bathrooms and the kitchen. The result is impressive: a beautiful and shiny transformation. I have been looking into splicing ropes to make a new snubber. Rope splicing is a technique used to, among other things, create a loop in a rope without using knots. A “Snubber” is used when our boat is at anchor. When the boat moves up and down on the waves, the snubber helps absorb the shock of the anchor chain and prevents unnecessary stress on the windlass. After watching various YouTube videos, I finally succeeded.

Next up was the maintenance service for our dinghy outboard motor, complete with new spark plugs and gear oil. The underside of our dinghy has been stripped of its algae coat and now shines like new again. These improvements are noticeable in the speed at which we sail on the water again.

It was a nice surprise when Huub, a solo sailor from Limonada, dropped his anchor right next to us. We last saw Huub about six months ago, and it is and remains special that you meet each other again. He regularly comes for a cup of coffee in the morning or has a bite to eat with us in the evening.

Several times, we walked to Fort Louis, where you have a beautiful view over the Bay of Marigot. Rajesh has had the opportunity to test his new lens extensively. Together, we let the sun slowly set while enjoying a drink and something tasty.

This is just a glimpse of the many jobs we tackled, and there are many more that I can’t even remember now. In short, we are not sitting still, and all three look forward to sailing further towards the American Virgin Islands (USVI).